Obstacles to development removed - Dr. Amunugama

Shirley Wijesinghe

All obstacles limiting rapid development of the country have been removed, said Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama at the 27th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association held at Watters Edge yesterday.

Minister added that the economic growth of the country should be maintained at a level around 8 percent to proceed to the position of a stabilized economy. He said the factors namely peace, political and administrative stability and financial stability will lead the country towards development.

The problems faced by then civil servants and today's administrative service members are vastly different. Some of them had to sacrifice their lives while discharging their duties in the terrorist threatened areas. Security Forces were able to create a suitable atmosphere throughout the country defeating terrorists under the correct direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa., he said .

"Your service is needed by motherland today to proceed the development targets. It is not impossible", he stressed.

He appealed to members of the association not to keep a wide gap between regulations and the attitude of the officers while serving the public.

Addressing the gathering, Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said discussions are in progress to establish two residential cities to ease the housing problems of public servants.